Published 19 November 2018
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
Church has been playing a special role in the country’s development, says PM Harris
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, November 19, 2018 (PLP PR Media Inc.) — Member of Parliament for St. Christopher Seven since November 29, 1993 and Prime Minister of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr the Hon Timothy Harris, is commending the church for the special role it has been playing in the development of the country.
“The church has been playing a special role in the country’s development,” said Dr Harris. “The framers of the Constitution were mindful to include that St. Kitts and Nevis is a Nation under God, to acknowledge His supremacy and to acknowledge that the country could only move forward in Godliness.”
Prime Minister Harris made the remarks on Sunday November 18 at the Antioch Baptist Church on Infirmary Road in St. Johnson Village, West Basseterre, where the second special church service to celebrate 25 years of his service as a parliamentarian to the nation and the people of St. Kitts and Nevis was held.
The special anniversary church service which coincided with Antioch Baptist Church’s annual Harvest and Thanksgiving Service was led by Pastor Lincoln Connor. The first such special anniversary service was held on Sunday November 11 at the House of Deliverance New Testament Church of God in Tabernacle.
Prime Minister Harris told the large congregation that included Governor General Sir Tapley Seaton, GCMG, CVO, QC, JP, that in St. Kitts and Nevis where there is religious freedom people some time take for granted the ability to come to worship and to fellowship. He cited the recent incident in the USA where a Synagogue was attacked, which reflects that even in a free society no one ought to take the opportunity for worship for granted.
“Little things like these as they may seem are among the many things that we as a people and a nation must give God thanks for,” said the Prime Minister. “There is a popular song ‘Count your Blessings, Count them one by one, and it will surprise you what God has done’. I have counted my blessings, maybe not one by one, but I have counted in thankfulness, the friendship, the love and the support I have had from wide and far, and I give God thanks.”
The Honourable Prime Minister said he was a strong believer in God because of his upbringing crediting it to his grandmother who encouraged family members to go to every Sunday school in Tabernacle where they lived, and beyond. The grandmother was a Moravian by upbringing, but a number of senior citizens in the village would regularly meet at a particular location in Stone Castle having what he called ‘band house’.
“It was a meeting and they prayed incessantly for all of us, and for our country,” recalled Dr Harris. “Some of that basically has helped to keep me anchored and in a deep belief in the redeeming power of God.”
He however observed: “There have been some terrible lows and some moments of high and through it all I have come to believe the God of the valley is still the God of the mountain, and whether we are down going through moments of special isolation we still can count on God’s grace because He alone is worthy, and ultimately whatever happens will be His will.”
In attendance at the service included Cabinet Ministers the Hon Eugene Hamilton, and the Hon Lindsay Grant; Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Senator the Hon Akilah Byron-Nisbett; Cabinet Secretary Mrs Josephine Huggins; Ambassadors Her Excellency Dr Thelma Phillip-Browne, and His Excellency Michael Powell; Resident Ambassador of the Republic of China on Taiwan His Excellency Tom Lee; and PS Mr Osbert DeSuza.
Also at the service giving support to Prime Minister Harris, who is the National Political Leader of the Peoples Labour Party (PLP) one of the three parties in Team Unity Administration, were Executive Members of the Peoples Labour Party, Constituency Number Seven PLP Group, and the membership of the Team Unity family from far and near who had come out especially to be part of the service.
“To all the friends and well-wishers over the years, I say thank you, and deeply appreciate the support and the wisdom,” said Prime Minister Harris. He added: “It is a special delight to see you and to have you here, and it certainly will inspire me to attempt to do even better than I have done in the last twenty five years.”
ENDS
Pix captions:
1: Pastor Lincoln Connor and members of the Antioch Baptist Church worship team pray for Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris.
2: Prime Minister Harris holds a young citizen. On his left is Governor General His Excellency Sir Tapley Seaton and on the right is visiting Psychologist Dr Sharon McNichols.
3: Prime Minister Harris delivering remarks at the special church service.
4: Executive Members of the PLP and PLP Constituency Seven Group pose for a picture with PLP’s National Political Leader Dr the Hon Timothy Harris after the service.
